LETTER TO THE EDITOR: My smile hides a lot of my pain

Madam – It might be cliche to say it but you will never truly know what someone is going through until you walk in their shoes.

It is so easy for some of us to judge others by their outward appearance and attitude, but you do not know what they could be hiding inside. I myself am going through such a tough time, emotionally, physically and financially, but no one actually knows this.

I work hard to maintain a positive nature so no one will guess what I am really going through and at the end of the day, the only one suffering is me.

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I find it hard to let go of my fears and open up to people and as a result I do not have a single close friend which I can unburden myself to. Everyone you ask about me will tell you that I am always happy and positive and I never complain but the opposite is true.

I hide behind a smile because I do not want to be judged and found lacking. I hide behind a laugh because I do not want others to see the tears I have to swallow when the enormity of my problems threatens to drown me alive.

I have sought professional help, but with treatment and medication being so expensive, there is simply nowhere to turn to anymore and I just try to take each day as it comes and remember that I am worth fighting for.

I hope you readers will use my story to find that person in your lives and offer them some help if they are too scared or ashamed to come forward. Everyone deserves a chance and the ones who hide pain behind a smile need it more than you will ever know.

JD

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